Once upon a time many years ago there lived a monster in a cave. He was a hideous beast with green fur and yellow teeth. The townspeople feared him and would never approach his cave, he in turn would never venture out to the town for he new he was not wanted and didn't like the people much anyhow. There was one particular day of the year that he couldn't stand, and on this day he vowed to ruin the towsnfolk's fun, for if he could not have any, why should they. This story should sound somewhat familiar, it is the story of the Grinch, but it seems to have a lot in common with Beowulf, in specific Grendel. Both Characters were outcasts from society, symbolic of a displaced people, and even though Grendel is portrayed as an evil monster, he is not just a simple killer. His is a tale of loss, sorrow, resistance, and death, and has been seen in cultures throughout the centuries.
             Grendel's tale of displacement stems back to the time of Adam and Eve and their children Cain and Able. When Cain killed Able, God "banished him far from mankind". Grendel is a descendant of Cain, so he shares Cain's banishment. He is displaced not only from whatever land or wealth he would have if he were "human" but he is also displaced from God. It is this loss of human emotion that causes Grendel to destroy. Since he cannot "approach the throne" like other people, he chooses to try to destroy the throne, because he has "no love for him". This is the main reason Grendel is a symbol of displaced peoples. After all, he is a direct descendent of the very first displaced people, Adam and Eve. Unlike Adam and Eve, Grendel is doomed to an eternity of banishment from God's light because of Cain's sin against his brother. Grendel is not only banished from God's light, but from the light in general. Throughout the text, references are made to Grendel as "the walker in darkness". ...